Mail-bag-handling device.



I. B. HERBERT.

MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLIGA'I'IOK nun 1-33.23, 1909.

Patented June 1, 1909.

attain,

THE "onus PATsRspm. umsnmmou. a. c.

F. E. HERBERT. MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1909.

923,174. r v Patented Ju'g1e1,1909.

5 mum-sum V m' "I' ,rnmnlurfkrrlks ca lusm'unrou, o. c.

Witumn;

P. E. HERBERT} MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE. APPLICATION mum 113.28, 1909.

Patented June 1, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l I I -l auoentqz TILIE NOR'RIS Prrsas cu, wllsumoruu, 5. c7

zy M

" m WW" F. E. HERBERT.

MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1909.

Patented June "1, 1909.

flit "all": PITERS co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

P. E. HERBERT. MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1909.

923174. Patented June. 1, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

g. W? l m: "an": rnnu 0a.. wa snnvcron, n. c

' Application filed February 23, 1909. Serial No. 479,452.

srnrnsrarnnr enr ch- I FRANK EDWARD HERBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BAG-I-IANDLING DEVICE.

To all whom timer concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK EDWARD HER- BERT, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bagl'landling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

I I a Thisinvention relates to improvements in mail handling mechanisms and embraces certam improvements designed to provide a more efiicientand reliable -device for handling mails on a moving trainjf The principal object of the invention is the .productiontof mechanismfor delivering a mail bag from a moving train and mechanism for receiving the" delivered bag adapted to eifectively break the momentum of the same and securely, holdthe bag from injury or loss. With the above and other objects in view the invention embraces certain combinatrons, constructions and arrangements of parts, clearly described in'the following descrlption and in the accompanying drawings in WhlOllL- Figurelds a side elevation of a stationary receivingmechanism, Fig. 2 is a detailed sectionalview of a receiving hopper, or trap forming part of the receiving mechanism. Fig. S-isa, top plan viewof the mechanism for receiving a mail bag directly from a moving car and for breaking the momentum plan view of a e mail bag reportion ofthe support for t Fig. 5 is a ceiving and bufiing mechanism.

detail elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a car mail bag delivering mechanism. Fig. 7fis a detail view of a connecting membertherefor. Fig. 8 is a top lan view.

of the delivering and receiving mec ianism in position for delivering and receiving a mail bag. Fig.9 is a top plan view of a portion ofthe car delivering mechanism. Fig. 10 is a detail top planview' thereof showing the bag contro ng triggeraction.

Referringto theaccompanying drawings which are: repared'for illustrative purposes and accor ingly not drawn to scale, numeral 16 denotes a base of concrete having a standard 19 located thereon, and braced against lateral displacement byturnbuckle brace rods '15 which are connected at their lower ends to base blocks 16 and at their second collar or sleeve 18 is mounted for ro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

tation on the collar 18 and is formed with a supporting platform or member L, which exadapted to be inserted in registering apertures formed in the collars 18 and 18 and which is flexibly connected to the brace 43 I by a chain 42. An upstanding supporting guide member M is located on the end of the support L nearest thestandard 19, and a sec ond upstanding guide member iv a is located on the opposite end thereof.

A series of guide rods E and E extend slidably through the supports M and M and are connected at their outer ends to a buffer plate D which is provided with a reinforced head piece and with a cross piece D which is connected to a second set of guide rods F which extend slidably through apertured lugs formed in the collar 18 and which are provided with expansion springs F.

A frame work comprising end members B and B and side members B is mounted on the supports M and M and a pair of gripping arms C are pivoted at their rear ends to the end member B Each of the gripping arms is formed with curved portions C having upstanding flanges O and depending legs C formed thereon. The gripping arms C are pivotally connected by links K intermediate of their ends, and the links K are pivotally connected to a link J having pivotal connection with a bar E mounted on the rods E and which is connected by compression springs H with the cross piece I of the support M. A plate B is mounted on the frame work B, B and B and is provided with a trip spring G connected thereto by a strap G. A trap box or hopper 44 having tra doors 46 hinged at 45 thereto and controlled by springs 47 is located directly be neath the arms C, so as to receive mail therefrom.

A mail bag supporting arm Q having apertured lugs Q is pivotally connected by a bolt 9 thereby to a connecting member N having bolts for holding the same to a car, and a spring P for holding the arm normally outward from the car; said spring being formed with a penetrating end p which slidably moves in an opening 40 formed in said member N. The outer end of the arm Q carries a pair of spring closed jaws S which are pivoted to bars R attached to the arm Q and are connected together by a spring 29.

' having rods 39 connected thereto, whereby a mail bag suspended by the trigger block T is steadied on the arm Q. A strap 22 is located on the rod 23 and a spring 21 is connected with said strap and with the arm Q for holding the same in a vertical position on said arm.

In operation a mail bag is suspended on the trigger block T and said block is locked between the spring controlled jaws S. As the arm Q is moved into engagement with the receiving mechanism, the trip spring G of the plate B will force the trigger block T from the jaws S and the mail bag will be simultaneously forced against the buffer plate D so that the links II connected with the gripping arms C will be actuated by the yielding of the buifer plate and said arms will be caused to temporarily grip the mail bag. When the momentum of the mail bag has been absorbed and expended, the gripping arms C will automatically open by reason of the tension of the springs F and H, and the mail bag will fall onto the trap doors of the receiving box or hopper 44, which doors tend to break the fall of the bag, and are adapted to automatically close when the bag has entered the box. The various parts are so arranged that efficiency is attained and the danger of injured mail is largely eliminated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a support, buffing mechanism arranged thereon, gripping arms pivoted thereon, springs for holding the gripping arms norm ally apart, means for temporarily closing said gripping arms, and a trap box for receiving mail from the gripping arms.

2. In a device of the class described, a yielding mail bag bufl'er mechanism, mail bag gripping arms co-acting with the buffer mechanism, means for holding the arms normally apart and means for temporarily closing said gripping arms.

3. In a device of the class described, a support, builing mechanism arranged thereon, gripping arms pivoted on the support, and a trigger mechanism for delivering mail to the gripping arms and the buffing mechanism in combination with a bag holding arm pivotally secured to a car, said arm having spring actuated jaws secured thereto.

4. In a device of the character described, a support, bu'l'ling mechanism arranged yieldingly thereon, a pair of co-acting gripping arms arranged on the support, a receiving trap box located beneath the gripping arms, in combination with a swinging car supported arm, and bag supporting trigger mechanism carried by the arm for delivering mail bags to the gripping arms and receiving [)OX.

5. In a device of the class described, a standard, a yielding buffer supported thereon, a pair of pivotally united gripping arms, neans for connecting the gripping arms to the buffer mechanism, means for holding the gripping arms normally apart and means for temporarily closing said gripping arms.

6. In a device of the class described, a standard, a supporting frame arranged for rotation thereon, a spring controlled yielding buffer supported on the frame, a pair of gripping arms pivotally supported on the frame, and means for connecting the gripping arms to the buffer in combination with a bag holding arm pivotally secured to a car,v

said bag holding arm having spring actuated jaws secured thereto.

7. In a device of the class described, a bag holding arm pivotally secured to a car, spring closed jaws arranged on the bag holding arm, a bag supporting trigger block pivoted at one end to the holding arm and adapted to have its free end engaged by the jaws, and stationary receiving means for actuating the jaws and releasing the bag from said trigger block.

8. In a device of the character described, a bag holding arm pivotally secured to a car, spring closed jaws arranged on the holding arm, a bag supporting trigger block pivotally secured at one end to the holding arm and engaged at its free end by the jaws, a stationary trip for releasing the trigger block from the jaws, a buffer mechanism for absorbing the momentum of a moving bag, and co-acting spring controlled grip ing jaws for temporarily holding a delivered ag.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK EDWARD HERBERT.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK HAREL, THos. OHALOUPKA. 

